Shaun Johnson is confident it’s a matter of time before he’s producing the performances to match his Golden Boot.

Awarded the trophy for international league’s best player after his heroics in the Kiwis’ Four Nations triumph late last year, the star playmaker has had a slow start to the NRL season.

As the Warriors head into their 20th anniversary re-match with Brisbane in Auckland on Sunday, Johnson is aware of the critics.

But he’s also happy with how he’s been building over the opening three rounds.

“I haven’t done anything flashy, got any runaways, stepped many people and done the stuff the crowd wants to see,” he said.

“But I think I’ve played my role in the side.”

One reason for the lack for fireworks could be attributed to the greater defensive attention on him and he cited the match against Parramatta last weekend.

“They certainly loaded up my side and stacked numbers there,” he said.

But that also opened up opportunities on the other side of the field, where the Warriors scored four of their five tries in a 29-16 win.

“It’s so good to see that we’ve got strike right across the park,” he said.

“If they shut one of us down, then we know the other edge is ready to go and everyone is contributing.”

While the 24-year-old Johnson will be back in his usual No.7 jersey, the Warriors will be without one of their other big attacking weapons.

England international Sam Tomkins is out for up to six weeks after getting a knee injury against the Eels.

He will be replaced by youngster Tuimoala Lolohea, who also stepped in as fullback when Tomkins missed round one with a hamstring problem.

“We know Tui will take the challenge on,” Johnson said.

“We don’t expect him to do anything flashy, come up with big plays. He just does his job. I’m sure if everyone can do that, we’ll get a win.”

Brisbane were the Warriors’ first opponents when the Auckland-based club entered the competition in 1995 and they came from behind to pip the home side 25-22 in a pulsating encounter.

Having claimed two premierships in the previous three seasons, the Broncos were favourites that March night.

For the upcoming clash, it’s the Warriors who are the bookmakers’ tip on both sides of the Tasman.

Both teams have bounced back from an opening round loss to win their last two matches.

The Broncos have retained the same 17 from their 44-22 thumping of North Queensland last week and named former Warriors lock Todd Lowrie as 18th man.